Vikings Live: a tour from the British Museum

The Vikings are coming... again! In 2014 we followed on from the success of Pompeii Live with another live broadcast- this time from the exhibition Vikings: life and legend. Here is that broadcast, presented by Bettany Hughes and Michael Wood, featuring the largest Viking warship ever found, Roskilde 6 along with interviews with Viking scholars from across the world. Michael and Bettany explore the viking world from the homelands to its farthest reaches, Viking ship craft, trading, warfare and religion are brought to life through the spectacular objects that were brought together for this blockbuster exhibition.

This video has a BBFC rating of 12A and contains descriptions of graphic violence that some viewers may find distressing, viewer discretion is advised.

The BP exhibition Vikings: life and legend was supported by BP. The exhibition was organised with the National Museum of Denmark and the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

#Vikings #BritishMuseumLive #BritishMuseumTour

[spider]

BBC always makes the music louder than the

[britishmuseum]

This was first broadcast live in 2014 from our blockbuster temporary exhibition Vikings life and legend. It has a BBFC rating of 12A and contains descriptions of graphic violence that some viewers may find distressing, viewer discretion is advised.

[BoiseG]

In 2014, I flew from Boise, Idaho to London just to see the Viking exhibit live and I have enjoyed this program almost as much as I enjoyed my visit to the British Museum. Thanks for the wonderful program!!!

[powerfrenzy]

I love these - I watched this and the Pompeii exhibitions and crave more. It's like getting a personally curated tour.

British Museum seems to put so much effort into their videos its re-ignights the fun elements of learning history. I wish my local museums were so interesting.

[drewbocop]

Pretty good but I think the intro music should be a bit louder. I can still hear the narrator talking.

[Sir_Cloudius]

I remember going to this exhibition as a class trip for my A-level Archaeology, now I've graduated University with a degree in Archaeology its really nice to go back and look at this exhibition again.

[sethman]

I'm so glad the British Museum made this available online!

[hrperformance]

The music is only too loud for a few seconds at the beginning, the rest is fine.
If you're interested in vikings, this is a great video to watch

[voraciousreader]

Ever since I first learned of the raid on Lindisfarne decades ago, I absolutely grieved for the monks and all of their artwork, for their precious vessels, their way of life. It was also my first glimpse into the world of the Vikings, and I was unfair in my estimation of them. Naturally, a 10 or 11 year old may develop strong biases against cruel and unnecessary death, but in the midst of that emotion, it’s impossible to be indifferent to their amazing culture, their artwork, their boldness, and resourcefulness, no matter what one feels for the poor monks!

[mynnmusic]

this curator has got to be the coolest curator ever!!! his knowledge on Vikings and the pieces installed and dressing up in full Viking atire!! absolute legend!

[fuferito]

I have loved Michael Wood for decades.
Thank you for posting this.

[aoakzeph]

That was, hands down, the most fascinating hour and a half I have spent in this infernal lockdown. I will be looking for more from The British Museum

[KarlGregory-gf]

Fantastic! The British Museum is beyond amazing, such a great exhibit.. Fantastic! The British Museum is beyond amazing, such a great exhibit..

[Trindal]

Thank you all for putting this on YouTube. I love history and would love to be able to travel the world and see things like this in person. That roof alone captures my imagination. Sadly in my physical state I just can’t afford the travel expenses.... in all honesty I would love to be able to design historical exhibitions, maybe in a way to draw teens and twenty somethings in to see the stuff in person without phones being pulled out to take a picture they will never look at again. Break the connection and study the object 3 feet away without a screen between them and it. But at the very least disabled people who wouldn’t have the means to go in person have a way to see it here.

[pug]

A huge round of applause for all the dedicated Metal Detectorists that primarily discovered most of these fantastic historical relics.

[mclarke]

Absolutely loved Pompeii now the Vikings what a wonderful education for the nation during lockdown and beyond.

[lucy-annpope]

Hi from Bournemouth, UK! I loved this exhibition when I was lucky enough to see it back in 2014. Now it's podcasts, blogs and videos like this which are keeping me going during lockdown. Thank you British Museum!

[annchristinegurholt]

"Fabulous and fascinating." It is so fantastic to be able to travel, to the British Museum, during 2020 now moving into 2021, via this Youtube video. Huge thanks to all the participants.

[monicacall]

I have Viking ancestry on all sides of my family. When my husband, son and I went to the Viking boat museum in Oslo I got chills up and down my spine and tears in my eyes. These were my people! A lady standing by me asked me why I was crying, and I told her that I felt such a visceral connection to my ancestors. She stared at me like I was a lunatic and reminded me that the Vikings were rapers, looters and pillagers. I turned to her and said, “But they’re MY rapers, looters, looters and pillagers and that’s what counts.” She walked away from me very quickly.🇩🇰

[Pitmirk_]

great to see Michael Wood.. just been watching his in searchof the dark ages series again on a scratchy video. Absolutely captivating.